I like this episode because it’s our first glimpse of River before she’s River Song. The nature of her story is that we meet her out of order, out of time. Our introduction is her ending, and so we never quite see her becoming.

I’ll let you listen to my defense in the episode (second to last segment, but the entire episode is genius. Listen for my dear friend and beta reader Lori Steuart defending Clara’s right to a proper story arc), but I just want to emphasize one point. I think this episode is about the power of love and the choices we make. Melody Pond overcomes all her terrible conditioning in order to save the man she was destined to murder, to choose love, to choose to become the Dr. River Song we know and love. In the end, our origin stories are made up of our individual choices and personal agency on the journey to become ourselves.

We had a great turnout at the Toronto launch party, with a reading, Q&A, book signing, and steampunk costume contest! Congratulations to the winners of the Silver Snail prize packs: Todd, Ana and Lori!

I also received my very first fan art of Cat and Mouse! Thank you to Steve Armstrong (also responsible for the Book 2 cover design), it means the world to me!

The biggest thanks to my family for ensuring the event ran smoothly, especially my parents and my sister and cover artist Sarah McComb. Prints of her artwork will be available at all appearances and the proceeds will fund her marine biology degree.

I will be uploading more pictures soon, but first it’s time to pack and prepare for Ottawa’s Prose in the Park this Saturday June 6! And there will also be a signing in Owen Sound on Friday, June 26 at The Ginger Press. For more details on all appearances, check out the Events page.

From Haven to Hell is now available online for Kindle and Kobo! You can order print copies as well. For more details on the Tales of the Captain Duke series, check out the Books page.

Well, readers, thank you for sharing my stories. And I can’t wait to get back to work on Tales of the Captain Duke #3: A Gentleman and a Scholar.